The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
The Qadi of Timbuktu: Islam and Law in Mali artwork

The Qadi of Timbuktu: Islam and Law in Mali

The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History
S5 E20907:36
Play episode

Show notes

In this episode of The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History, Lucas and Luna explore the role of qadis — Islamic judges — in the Mali Empire, focusing on the famous qadi of Timbuktu, Al-Qadi Aqib ibn Mahmud. They discuss how the qadi's court blended sharia with Mande customary law, the importance of the Sankore Madrasa in training legal scholars, and the limits of Mansa Musa's authority over religious matters. Through the lens of Ibn Battuta's travels and the Tarikh al-Sudan, they uncover how the law shaped daily life, commerce, and governance in one of history's wealthiest empires. The conversation also touches on the contested nature of legal authority and the legacy of Mali's judicial system for modern understanding of African legal traditions. #MaliEmpire #Qadi #Timbuktu #IslamicLaw #Sharia #MandeCustomaryLaw #SankoreMadrasa #IbnBattuta #TarikhAlSudan #AlQadiAqib #MansaMusa #WestAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #LegalHistory #AfricanHistory #IslamInAfrica #LawAndSociety Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

More from this show

More
  1. Mansa Sakura: The Slave Who Became Mali's King

    Most histories remember Mansa Musa as the face of Mali’s wealth, but before his coronation sat a ruler whose rise was far more unexpected. This episode explores the life of Mansa S…

    S5 E24310:13
  2. The Silk Road of Sand: Mali's Trade Networks

    While Mansa Musa’s gold has overshadowed other aspects of the empire, Mali’s true power lay in its control over trans-Saharan trade routes. This episode explores how the Wangara me…

    S5 E24207:58
  3. Mali's Iron Kings: Blacksmiths and Nyama

    While we often discuss the gold of Mansa Musa or the manuscripts of Timbuktu, the Mali Empire’s foundation was built on iron. This episode explores the vital role of blacksmiths, k…

    S5 E24108:26
  4. The Great Mosque of Djenné: Earth, Faith, and Empire

    While Mansa Musa’s hajj brought Mali global fame, the true heart of its spiritual life pulsed in the Sudano-Sahelian architecture of cities like Djenne. This episode explores how t…

    S5 E24009:36
  5. Mali's Slave Kings and the Wangara Rise

    This episode explores the paradox of Mansa Sakura, a former slave who became one of Mali’s most effective rulers. While earlier episodes covered the Keita dynasty’s military conque…

    S5 E23907:26
  6. Mali's Blacksmith Kings: The Iron That Built an Empire

    While Mansa Musa’s gold dominates the history books, it was iron that actually built the Mali Empire. In this episode, we explore how the Keita dynasty’s roots as blacksmiths shape…

    S5 E23808:53
Now Playing
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo History — The Qadi of Timbuktu: Islam and Law in Mali | Podcast | Josplay Music